Underpowered?

[bucketbass]

I'm looking for a new boat and am seriously considering a new Princecraft Starfish 16SC. I'm just try to get some first hand advise from the people who use a boat like I do, for Fishing!

I fish for bass, pike mostly and am not interested in speed. The package I'm looking at has a 25 Merc and the boat itself weights 510 lbs( no motor, fluids or gear)

My main concern is the getting the boat to plain with 2 or 3 ppl. I was talking to one of my friends who got me thinking about this whole underpowered thing.

Please let me know what a ballpark top speed would be based on your experience.

Thanks

[IanD]

BB,
Rule of thumb is to try and go for the max rated motor for your boat. In this case, if I am looking at the right model, it is 40hp. You will actually save money on gas since you do not have to be driving it wide open all the time just to maintain a decent speed.
My Lund classic 1625 is a little heavier and with 2 men on board, along with a pile of rods and several large musky tackle boxes, I can hit 30mph (on the GPS)on flat water.
If the finances allow, go for the biggest motor you can afford.

[mdej]

Get more power, at least a 35.

I have a Lowe Angler 14', not sure of the weight, but I can tell you with only a 25hp on it, it burns a little too much gas and its diffcult to get to plane with 2 full grown men in it. One of them has to sit up front.

Spend a little more on the engine in the long run you will be much happier.

[meanmuskie]

go for max hp . you don't have to go full throttle to cruise at a decent speed so your engine revs at lower rpm (more life and mpg). also when you bring your buddies along getting on plane won't be an issue and when you want to go fast you can !

[High Noon]

I underpowered last year with a 9.9. I had to move up to a 15 and if the budget could have stretched a bit more I would have gone for a twenty. You are doing the correct thing by getting experienced opinions. Something that I should have done last year. My advice is to get the extra h.p. Being underpowered on the water just sucks.

High Noon

[bucketbass]

Thanks for the input guys. In the past I have used a 9.9 2 stoke on a 12 footer and have been fairly satisfied with the speed of that so if the startfish it is proportionate to my old 12 footer, then all will be good.

I have thought it over and as suggested, had the dealer revise the quote and increase the engine to a 30hp 4 stroke. I think this will suffice for 2 lads most of the time.

[Wallyboss]

What is the boat rated for????nderpowered can be dangerus!!! it takes too long to bring the bow of the boat down and you can't see in front of you!!!

[joco]

IT realy depend your need.what you will do wit it etc.

AT the cottage we have a yukon princraft 14,6 feet long,,and we had a 20hp on it..now we have a 15 and its almost as fast...and a leas heavy to take that motor out off it..we go about 27mph.then and now..25mph.what a big deference.. .

but my bigger boat i had,,had the biggest it could take,,and was very happy wit it.

now have a sylvan protroller...14 foot something wit a 30hp,,,goes about 30mph on it...good anaught for me.

but usely if you get the biggest the boat can andle the better it is.

but i see plenty off 9.9 on tha water and guys catch as mutch fish..

joco

[salvo]

I agree with the bunch that say put the max rated motor on the boat. I am thinking you will be underwelmed by a 25 on that boat.

[orrsey]

In my experience there is not a whole lot of difference between a 25 hp and a 30 hp but a rather big difference between a 30 and 40 hp. I have actaully been really looking at the starfish as well, and the word I have gotten is to go with the 40hp. Again it depends on your needs but there is also the resorter from princecraft that is virtually the exact same boat but a foot and a half shorter and about 60lbs lighter, and depending on where you go about $500 cheaper...again the 1 1/2 foot difference may make a difference with others in the boat but thats up to you to decide.

RESORTER

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
· Center Line: 4.4 m (14'-6")
· Beam: 1.9 m (73")
· Bottom Width: 1.6 m (63")
· Max. Depth: 0.7 m (29")
· Approx. Draft: 0.4 m (17")
· Transom Height: 0.5 m (20")
· Approx. Weight: 206 kg (455 lb.)
TRANSPORT CANADA
· Max. H.P. cap.: 30 kw (40 hp)
· Max. weight cap.: 469 kg (1035 lb.)
· Max. person cap.: 3
· Max. weight person cap.: 280 kg (617 lb.)
NMMA (USA)
· Max. H.P. cap.: 30 kw (40 hp)
· Max. weight cap.: 469 kg (1035 lb.)
· Max. person cap.: 5
· Max. weight person cap.: 280 kg (617 lb.)
ALUMINUM THICKNESS
· Bottom: 1.8 mm (.072")
· Side: 1.6 mm (.064")
GAS TANK
· Type: PORTABLE

STARFISH
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
· Center Line: 4.9 m (16'-0")
· Beam: 1.9 m (73")
· Bottom Width: 1.6 m (63")
· Max. Depth: 0.7 m (29")
· Approx. Draft: 0.4 m (17")
· Transom Height: 0.5 m (20")
· Approx. Weight: 231 kg (510 lb.)
TRANSPORT CANADA
· Max. H.P. cap.: 30 kw (40 hp)
· Max. weight cap.: 597 kg (1317 lb.)
· Max. person cap.: 5
· Max. weight person cap.: 408 kg (899 lb.)
NMMA (USA)
· Max. H.P. cap.: 30 kw (40 hp)
· Max. weight cap.: 597 kg (1317 lb.)
· Max. person cap.: 7
· Max. weight person cap.: 408 kg (899 lb.)
ALUMINUM THICKNESS
· Bottom: 1.8 mm (.072")
· Side: 1.6 mm (.064")
GAS TANK
· Type: PORTABLE